Global toy-maker Fisher-Price has voluntarily recalled a number of risky children’s products in the UAE market.
Fisher-Price, in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Economy, has made recall announcements in local dailies today (October 13, 2010), and warned parents against using those particular products as they may be a health hazard.
The products in the recall include the Healthy Care High Chair, the Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium, and Bat & Score Goal baby toys.
Al Shula General Trading, the representatives of Fisher-Price products in the UAE and across the GCC (excluding Saudi Arabia), told Emirates 24|7 that the affected products comprise of a very small percentage of the overall Fisher-Price products sold in the region.
“Across the region, there were not more than 1,800 to 2,000 such products sold,” Dinu Philip, the Dubai-based Regional Marketing Manager of Al Shula General Trading, told this website. “Although the hazard is small and we haven’t had any complaints from within the region, we are not taking any chances and are voluntarily recalling the products,” he said. “The safety kit will be arriving shortly from the US,” Philip added.
According to Mattel, Fisher-Price’s parent company, the affected high chairs have a frame that folds flat for storage and a three position reclining seat. The company has warned that these high chairs contain tray storage pegs on the rear legs that children can fall on or against, posing a laceration hazard.
Healthy Care High Chair product number C6412 and H7183 are affected by this recall. The model number of the high chair is located on the back of the seat. The company has asked customers with high chairs with these product numbers to “please discontinue using your Healthy Care High Chair immediately.”
Other products that the company is recalling in the UAE include the Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium, and Bat & Score Goal baby toys with inflatable balls because the inflation valves can detach and pose a choking hazard. Note that two versions of the aquarium toy are being recalled, with product codes C3068 and H8094.
The Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium with product code H8094 was sold in the UAE between June 2005 and March 2008, according to the company’s adverts in local dailies. According to the same ads, the Bat & Score Goal, with product code K0476, was sold between May 2006 and July 2008.
Fisher-Price has received 46 reports of the valves detaching including 14 reports of valves found in children’s mouths. The company is urging parents to remove it from children’s reach immediately and contact Mattel for a replacement kit.
In about 14 of the cases, children were found chewing the valve, while three children even choked on the valve. It needs to be reminded to parents that choking on such valves could, in a worst-case scenario, turn fatal.
The company made recall announcements for 10 million toys across the world late last month after the products were blamed for children’s injuries.
Parents with these products are being advised to contact the company on: 0097142699960.